3,000 women on their marks to Race for Life

PROSPECT Park will tremble to the footfalls of 3,000 women on Wednesday night as they walk and run in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The Race for Life women-only five kilometre run is now in its third year and has once again attracted the maximum number of entries for the Reading race, this year sponsored by Tesco and the Evening Post.

Organisers hope to drum up £210,000 in sponsorship, to add to the thousands being raised from similar races up and down the country.

A total of 150 races are taking place nationwide, with more than 350,000 women running to raise £20 million overall towards pioneering research into cancer cures.

Race organiser Karina Morgan said she had once again been stunned by the number of Reading women eager to take part in the name of charity.

"It's a fantastic number of entrants - the list filled up really quickly," she said.

"We want to encourage them all to raise as much sponsorship money as possible, and to have a great time on the day."

The event will start with an aerobic warm-up session from 5.30pm to 6pm, with the actual race starting at 7.30pm.

"I'd like to ask runners to get to the park as early as possible to avoid congestion," said Ms Morgan.

"I'd also remind people to bring some water if the weather is hot - and to make sure they are not over-dressed!"

According to Cancer Research UK, one in three people in the UK will find themselves or someone they know affected by the disease.

Since starting the Race for Life in 1994, the charity has managed to raise more than £50 million, which it says all goes to the doctors,

nurses and scientists working to develop new treatments.

"Each year there are more and more women wanting to take part, and the Reading event is always extremely popular," Ms Morgan said.

"We'd like to say ‘good luck' to all of the racers in this year's event, and hope they enjoy themselves on Wednesday."